We're headed into the fall legislative session in Wisconsin, and the only thing everyone can seem to agree on is that no one has any idea what to expect. The Dems made up some ground in the Senate riding the recall tide, but they weren't able to bring home the majority. So the GOP still gets to set the agenda, but with only a one vote majority and a number of mischievous members they are going to need Dem votes to pass bills.

 

This means that the landscape is a little different for the education reform business that still needs to be addressed. I hope that means that we still have the chance to rewrite Wisconsin's Charter Law. I am even more hopeful that we can pass a better bill than the one being considered before the legislature went home to lick its wounds for the summer. Given the new cast of characters, and the change in the political setting thanks to the recall elections, there is a coalition of organizations that have a strong hand to play and are ready to up the ante to pass a STRONG charter law. We'll have to unravel the web of compromise that, although well intended, seriously weakened the initiative that's out there, but there are key pieces of that bill that should be recreated and expanded upon.

 

Here are the highlights:

 

As always, the devil is in the details, but the right bill could help Wisconsin turn the corner on charters. We have huge opportunities before us. National caliber charter networks are considering setting up in Wisconsin despite the fact that we have a very limiting charter law. Imagine what might be possible if we had both a law and a statewide policy aimed at facilitating successful charter schools rather than inhibiting them.

This should be a bipartisan initiative. No school district is likely to benefit more from a flourishing charter sector that the City of Milwaukee. Charters could finally be used to turn around failing schools in Racine, Beloit, and Green Bay as well. These are all areas represented by Democrats. The majority of kids in existing charters are low-income students of color. The vast majority of kids who are stuck in a lousy school because existing charters can't expand fast enough come from the same neighborhoods. It's good policy and it's good politics...for everyone. It's time to get something done that actually improves the education reality in Wisconsin and a strong charter law is a start.